Mortality rate related to peripheral arterial disease: A retrospective analysis of epidemiological data (years 2008-2019).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases with more than 230 million people being affected worldwide. As highlighted by the recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines, data on the epidemiology of PAD is urgently needed. METHODS AND RESULTS We accessed the vital registration data of the Veneto region (Northern Italy, approximately five millions inhabitants) covering the period 2008-2019. We computed annual age-standardized rates for PAD reported as the underlying cause of death (UCOD) or as one of multiple causes of death (MCOD). Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) served to study the association between PAD and cardiovascular comorbidities. The age-standardized mortality rate for PAD as MCOD slightly declined from 19.6 to 17.8 in men and from 10.8 to 9.1 deaths per 100,000 population-years in women. The age-standardized PAD-specific mortality rate (UCOD) remained stable: 3.1 to 3.7 per 100,000 person-years in women (Average Annual Percent Change 1.3, 95% CI -0.8; 3.4%) and 4.4 to 4.3 per 100,000 person-years (Average Annual Percent Change -0.2, 95% CI -3.6; 3.4%) in men. PAD contributed to 1.6% of all deaths recorded in the region. Ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and neoplasms were the most prevalent UCOD among PAD patients. PAD was associated with diabetes mellitus (OR 3.79, 95%CI 3.55-4.06) and chronic kidney diseases (OR 2.73, 95%CI 2.51-2.97) in men, and with atrial fibrillation (OR 2.26, 95%CI 2.10-2.44) in women. CONCLUSION PAD remains a substantial cause of death in the general population of this high-income region of Western Europe with marked sex-specific differences

Proyecto IRESUD: interconexión de sistemas fotovoltaicos a la red eléctrica en ambientes urbanos. estado de avance a julio de 2014 y primeras mediciones en sistemas piloto

En el marco de una convocatoria del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, se conformó, en el año 2011, el consorcio público-privado IRESUD entre la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), la Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) y 5 empresas privadas, para la ejecución del proyecto “Interconexión de Sistemas Fotovoltaicos a la Red Eléctrica en Ambientes Urbanos”. El principal objetivo del mismo es introducir en el país tecnologías asociadas con la interconexión a la red eléctrica, en áreas urbanas, de sistemas fotovoltaicos (FV), contemplando para ello cuestiones técnicas, económicas y regulatorias. En este trabajo, se presenta el grado de avance del proyecto en lo referente a las cuestiones regulatorias y a las instalaciones piloto realizadas o en ejecución en diferentes partes del país. Asimismo, se muestran las primeras mediciones de algunas de las instalaciones actualmente en operación y se analiza el comportamiento de un inversor FV de conexión a red.Fil: Durán, J. C.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Socolovsky, Hernan Pablo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Raggio, D.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Godfrin, Elena María. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Jakimczyk, J.. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Bogado, Mónica Gladys. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, F. J.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Informática; ArgentinaFil: Castro, N. E.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Informática; ArgentinaFil: Pedro, G.. Provincia del Neuquen. Ministerio de Hacienda Obras y Servivcios Publicos. Ente Provincial de Energia del Neuquen; ArgentinaFil: Sepúlveda, O.. Provincia del Neuquen. Ministerio de Hacienda Obras y Servivcios Publicos. Ente Provincial de Energia del Neuquen; ArgentinaFil: Argañaraz, C.. Provincia del Neuquen. Ministerio de Hacienda Obras y Servivcios Publicos. Ente Provincial de Energia del Neuquen; ArgentinaFil: Benítez, E.. Universidad Nacional de Luján; ArgentinaFil: Roldán, A.. Universidad Nacional de Luján; ArgentinaFil: Righini, R.. Universidad Nacional de Luján; Argentin

River widening in mountain and foothill areas during floods: Insights from a meta-analysis of 51 European Rivers

River widening, defined as a lateral expansion of the channel, is a critical process that maintains fluvial ecosystems and is part of the regular functioning of rivers. However, in areas with high population density, channel widening can cause damage during floods. Therefore, for effective flood risk management it is essential to identify river reaches where abrupt channel widening may occur. Despite numerous efforts to predict channel widening, most studies have been limited to single rivers and single flood events, which may not be representative of other conditions. Moreover, a multi-catchment scale approach that covers various settings and flood magnitudes has been lacking. In this study, we fill this gap by compiling a large database comprising 1564 river reaches in several mountain regions in Europe affected by floods of varying magnitudes in the last six decades. By applying a meta-analysis, we aimed to identify the types of floods responsible for more extensive widening, the river reach types where intense widening is more likely to occur, and the hydraulic and morphological variables that explain widening and can aid in predicting widening. Our analysis revealed seven groups of reaches with significantly different responses to floods regarding width ratios (i.e., the ratio between channel width after and before a flood). Among these groups, the river reaches located in the Mediterranean region and affected by extreme floods triggered by short and intense precipitation events showed significantly larger widening than other river reaches in other regions. Additionally, the meta-analysis confirmed valley confinement as a critical morphological variable that controls channel widening but showed that it is not the only controlling factor. We proposed new statistical models to identify river reaches prone to widening, estimate potential channel width after a flood, and compute upper bound width ratios. These findings can inform flood hazard evaluations and the design of mitigation measures

Proyecto IRESUD: interconexión de sistemas fotovoltaicos a la red eléctrica en ambientes urbanos : Estado de avance a julio de 2014 y primeras mediciones en sistemas piloto

En el marco de una convocatoria del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, se conformó, en el año 2011, el consorcio público-privado IRESUD entre la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), la Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) y 5 empresas privadas, para la ejecución del proyecto “Interconexión de Sistemas Foto voltaicos a la Red Eléctrica en Ambientes Urbanos”. El principal objetivo del mismo es introducir en el país tecnologías asociadas con la interconexión a la red eléctrica, en áreas urbanas, de sistemas fotovoltaicos (FV), contemplando para ello cuestiones técnicas, económicas y regulatorias. En este trabajo, se presenta el grado de avance del proyecto en lo referente a las cuestiones regulatorias y a las instalaciones piloto realizadas o en ejecución en diferentes partes del país. Asimismo, se muestran las primeras mediciones de algunas de las instalaciones actualmente en operación y se analiza el comportamiento de un inversor FV de conexión a red.In the framework of a call from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the public-private partnership IRESUD, formed by the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), the National University of San Martín (UNSAM) and 5 private companies, was created to implement the project "Interconnection of Photovoltaic Systems to the Electrical Grid in Urban Areas". The main objective is to introduce technologies in the country associated with the interconnection to the grid of photovoltaic (PV) systems in urban areas, taking into account technical, economic and regulatory issues. In this paper, the degree of progress of the project regarding regulatory issues and pilot installations in different parts of the country is presented. Also, the first measurements of some of the facilities are also given and the behavior of a PV grid connected inverter is analyzed.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Multiwavelength behaviour of the blazar 3C 279: Decade-long study from γ -ray to radio

We report the results of decade-long (2008-2018) γ -ray to 1 GHz radio monitoring of the blazar 3C 279, including GASP/WEBT, Fermi and Swift data, as well as polarimetric and spectroscopic data. The X-ray and γ -ray light curves correlate well, with no delay ≳ 3 h, implying general cospatiality of the emission regions. The γ -ray-optical flux-flux relation changes with activity state, ranging from a linear to amore complex dependence. The behaviour of the Stokes parameters at optical and radio wavelengths, including 43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array images, supports either a predominantly helical magnetic field or motion of the radiating plasma along a spiral path. Apparent speeds of emission knots range from 10 to 37c, with the highest values requiring bulk Lorentz factors close to those needed to explain γ -ray variability on very short time-scales. The MgII emission line flux in the 'blue' and 'red' wings correlates with the optical synchrotron continuum flux density, possibly providing a variable source of seed photons for inverse Compton scattering. In the radio bands, we find progressive delays of the most prominent light-curve maxima with decreasing frequency, as expected from the frequency dependence of the τ= 1 surface of synchrotron self-absorption. The global maximum in the 86 GHz light curve becomes less prominent at lower frequencies, while a local maximum, appearing in 2014, strengthens toward decreasing frequencies, becoming pronounced at ∼5 GHz. These tendencies suggest different Doppler boosting of stratified radio-emitting zones in the jet. © 2020 The Author(s).We thank the referee for attentive reading and comments that helped to improve presentation of the manuscript. The data collected by the WEBT collaboration are stored in the WEBT archive at the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino -INAF (ht tp://www.oato.inaf.it/blazars/webt/); for questions regarding their availability, please contact the WEBT President Massimo Villata([email protected]).TheSt.Petersburg University team acknowledges support from Russian Science Foundation grant 17-12-01029. The research at BU was supported in part by National Science Foundation grant AST-1615796 and NASA Fermi Guest Investigator grants 80NSSC17K0649, 80NSSC19K1504, and 80NSSC19K1505. The PRISM camera at Lowell Observatory was developed by K. Janes et al. at BU and Lowell Observatory, with funding from the NSF, BU, and Lowell Observatory. The emission-line observations made use of the DCT at Lowell Observatory, supported by Discovery Communications, Inc., BU, the University of Maryland, the University of Toledo, and Northern Arizona University. The VLBA is an instrument of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the US NSF, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. This research has used data from the UMRAO which was supported by the University of Michigan; research at this facility was supported by NASA under awards NNX09AU16G, NNX10AP16G, NNX11AO13G, and NNX13AP18G, and by the NSF under award AST-0607523. The Steward Observatory spectropolarimetric monitoring project was supported by NASA Fermi Guest Investigator grants NNX08AW56G, NNX09AU10G, NNX12AO93G, and NNX15AU81G. The Torino group acknowledges financial contribution from agreement ASI-INAF n.2017-14-H.0 and from contract PRIN-SKA-CTA-INAF 2016. I.A. acknowledges support by a Ramon y Cajal grant (RYC-2013-14511) of the 'Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion, y Universidades (MICIU)' of Spain and from MCIU through the 'Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa' award for the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia-CSIC (SEV-20170709). Acquisition and reduction of the POLAMI and MAPCAT data were supported by MICIU through grant AYA2016-80889-P. The POLAMI observations were carried out at the IRAM 30-m Telescope, supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain). The MAPCAT observations were carried out at theGerman-Spanish Calar Alto Observatory, jointly operated by the Max-Plank-Institut fur Astronomie and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia-CSIC. The study is based partly on data obtained with the STELLA robotic telescopes in Tenerife, an AIP facility jointly operated by AIP and IAC. The OVRO 40-m monitoring program is supported in part by NASA grants NNX08AW31G, NNX11A043G, and NNX14AQ89G, and NSF grants AST-0808050 and AST-1109911. TH was supported by the Academy of Finland projects 317383 and 320085. AZT-24 observations were made within an agreement between Pulkovo, Rome and Teramo observatories. The Submillimeter Array is a joint project between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics and is funded by the Smithsonian Institution and the Academia Sinica. The Abastumani team acknowledges financial support by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation under contract FR/217950/16. r This research was partially supported by the Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science under grants DN 081/2016, DN 18-13/2017, KP-06-H28/3 (2018), and KP-06-PN38/1 (2019), Bulgarian National Science Programme 'Young Scientists and Postdoctoral Students 2019', Bulgarian National Science Fund under grant DN18-10/2017 and National RI Roadmap Projects DO1-157/28.08.2018 and DO1-153/28.08.2018 of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria. GD and OV gratefully acknowledge observing grant support from the Institute of Astronomy and Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory via bilateral joint research project `Study of ICRF radio-sources and fast variable astronomical objects' (head -G. Damljanovic). This work was partly supported by the National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria under grant DN 08-20/2016, and by project RD-08-37/2019 of the University of Shumen. This work is a part of projects nos 176011, 176004, and 176021, supported by theMinistry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. MGM acknowledges support through the Russian Government Program of Competitive Growth of Kazan Federal University. The Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (OAVdA) is managed by the Fondazione Clement Fillietroz-ONLUS, which is supported by the Regional Government of the Aosta Valley, the Town Municipality of Nus and the 'Unite des Communes vald 'otainesMont-Emilius'. The research at the OAVdA was partially funded by several `Research and Education' annual grants from Fondazione CRT. This article is partly based on observations made with the IAC80 and TCS telescopes operated by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias in the Spanish Observatorio del Teide on the island of Tenerife. A part of the observations were carried out using theRATAN-600 scientific equipment (SAO of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Use of algae in strawberry management

In agriculture, extracts from algae are used for their stimulant effects on plant vigor and productivity but little is known on their effect against fungal pathogens. However, the recent EU restriction on synthetic pesticides made the management of fungal plant pathogens difficult and greatly stimulated the research of alternative solutions to chemicals. Applications of extracts from algae can help limit disease spread in several crops and the development effective alternatives to chemical treatment in crop protection and nutrition management. In particular, for strawberry, the management of a number of serious diseases in open field and greenhouse in soil or soilless cultivation has become difficult due to recent restrictions in agrochemical use and the lack of effective alternatives. This review provides an overview of the most recent findings on the potential use of extracts of algae for strawberry management, concerning both their biostimulant effects and antifungal properties against pathogens. The existing reports on this topic show the strong potential of algae extracts application on plants both as biostimulants and bioprotectants against fungal pathogens. Further investigation is needed to fully uncover the interesting and exploitable antifungal properties of extracts from algae and to clarify the mechanism of action of extracts and singular components against pathogens

Different Antifungal Activity of <i>Anabaena</i> sp., <i>Ecklonia</i> sp., and <i>Jania</i> sp. against <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>

Water extracts and polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. were tested for their activity against the fungal plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Water extracts at 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL inhibited B. cinerea growth in vitro. Antifungal activity of polysaccharides obtained by N-cetylpyridinium bromide precipitation in water extracts was evaluated in vitro and in vitro at 0.5, 2.0, and 3.5 mg/mL. These concentrations were tested against fungal colony growth, spore germination, colony forming units (CFUs), CFU growth, and on strawberry fruits against B. cinerea infection with pre- and post-harvest application. In in vitro experiments, polysaccharides from Anabaena sp. and from Ecklonia sp. inhibited B. cinerea colony growth, CFUs, and CFU growth, while those extracted from Jania sp. reduced only the pathogen spore germination. In in vitro experiments, all concentrations of polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. reduced both the strawberry fruits infected area and the pathogen sporulation in the pre-harvest treatment, suggesting that they might be good candidates as preventive products in crop protection

Development of the Italian version of the neck pain and disability scale, NPDS-I: Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity

Study design.: Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS). Objective.: Translating, culturally adapting, and validating the Italian version of the NPDS-I. Summary of background data.: Great importance is devoted to validated and comprehensive outcome measures to improve interventions for neck pain. A translated form of a functional scale in patients with neck pain has never been studied within the Italian population. Methods.: The Italian version of the NPDS questionnaire was developed involving forward-backward translation and final review by an expert committee to establish multidimensional correspondence with the original English form. Psychometric testing included factor analysis with Varimax rotation, reliability by internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha) and test-retest repeatability (Spearmans rank test), validity by comparing the Italian version of SF-36 to NPDS-I (Pearsons correlation); further subscales comparisons to single SF-36 domains were also conducted. Results.: The authors required a 4-month period before achieving a shared version of the NPDS-I. The form was administered to 157 subjects, presenting good acceptability. Factor analyses demonstrated 3 subscales (63% of explained variance), defined as neck dysfunction related to general activities (subscale 1, 8 items), neck pain and cognitive-behavioral aspects (subscale 2, 8 items), neck dysfunction related to activities of the cervical spine (subscale 3, 4 items). The questionnaire showed high internal consistency (NPDS: 0.942, subscale 1: 0.919, subscale 2: 0.856, subscale 3: 0.889) and good test-retest reliability (P < 0.001). Validity was explained by high correlations with SF-36 total score (r = -0.47, P < 0.001) and with single SF-36 domains scores, highly significant (P < 0.001) with the exception of physical role domain (r = -0.17, P = 0.035). Finally, the 3 subscales demonstrated good correlations when compared with selected SF-36 domains. Conclusion.: The NPDS-I outcome questionnaire was successfully translated into Italian, showing good multidimensional and psychometric properties, supporting the results of the already existing versions of the scale. Its use is recommended in clinical and research practice. © 2008, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins